When Peter Jensen left Moore College in 2001 as Principal to become the Archbishop of the Sydney Diocese he left clear instructions to Neil Ferguson who was the Property Manager at the time and my boss to ‘Look after the Cash Chapel’.

In the ensuing 20 years we have done that as we repaired the roof and box gutters, restained the timber seats damaged by water ingress, rewired the power in the building, reglazed windows, repaired the organ, interred the next generation of ashes from the Cash family and the list goes on.

Neil retired in Jan 2021 and as I took over his role as Property Manager his parting words to me were to ‘Look after the Cash Chapel’.

I’ve been watching the 75 year old building age gracefully over my 27 yrs and this year, 2025, have acted on the need for a full tuck pointing repair job which involves first repairing the mortar joints and then adding a fine contrasting colour line of mortar to create a clean sharp visual effect.

At the same time, a height safety system has been installed on the roof which ensures a safe, unobtrusive way of letting contractors harness around the building to do the tuck works and window sealing without the need for an expensive scaffold as well as allowing my team to safely do maintenance works on the roof into the future.

The rusting protective wire covering the stained-glass windows to the front and rear of the building were removed and repaired before being sand blasted, powder coated and finally reinstalled at the end of the tuckpointing and window sealing.

When the original exterior decorative glass lights to the front and side entry were removed they literally fell apart. Taken to our workshop in pieces the Property Team carefully put them back together, painted and rewired them to live long another day.

At the completion of the job the contractor presented us with a new way of cleaning the sandstone that uses a product which when sprayed on works slowly with the natural rain periods to clean the black spots from the sandstone. This contrasts with the harsh pressure washer with chemicals method usually adopted for this job.

We are thankful for the way the contractors worked with us to complete the job as we were able to see their own love for the building in the way they carefully did their work which resulted in the building looking sharp and fresh and ready for the next 75 years.

The completion of the job coincided with a service of thanksgiving attended by the Moore College Staff and Faculty, a great celebration of the College community coming together. As we admired the building we were in with all its finery and architecture we were reminded that ‘church’ is not bricks and mortar, rather church is the fellowship of his people as they sit under the authority of our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ. So, we read from God’s word, prayed and sang with gusto as we gave thanks to God for His Son who died as a ransom for us and His church.

Jon Telfer

Property Manager, 2025

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Over two nights in Marcus Loane Hall, students from Moore College performed The Mark Drama, a 90-minute retelling of the Gospel of Mark presented in a theatre-in-the-round format. 

No professionals. No props. Just Gospel.

The impact

There was a great turnout on both nights, with the team even setting out extra chairs to fit everyone in. The majority of visitors were not Christians, creating a wonderful opportunity for the Gospel to be heard and discussed.

One student shared that their non-Christian friends came unexpectedly, loved the performance, and each took home a copy of Luke’s Gospel. Another described a deep and honest conversation with their non-believing sister after the Friday performance, reflecting on the goodness of Jesus and the truth of the Gospel.

A grandmother who attended said, “I’ve always kind of skipped over Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane, but seeing Him cry out to God to take the cup away hit me so deeply. I was so moved.”

Others spoke about continued conversations in the days that followed, friends who wanted to learn more about Jesus, and family members who were open to hearing the story for themselves.

These moments remind us that The Mark Drama was never just a performance. It was an opportunity to share the Gospel clearly and personally, sparking genuine conversations about who Jesus is and what it means to know Him.

A Word of Thanks

We are deeply grateful for the students who brought The Mark Drama to life for their preparation, humility, and faithfulness and for everyone who supported and attended.

It was a reminder that the Gospel doesn’t need anything added to it. It stands alone: powerful, living, and true.

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Presented by Pamela Summers, Huguenot Society of Australia – Wednesday 8 October

Last Wednesday evening, the Moore College came alive with stories of courage, faith and endurance as Pamela Summers from the Huguenot Society of Australia delivered a fascinating and captivating talk on The Huguenots and the French Reformation. The turnout exceeded expectations, prompting the event to move to Marcus Loane Hall to accommodate the larger audience, a clear sign of the interest in this remarkable chapter of church and world history. The presentation was particularly helpful for those to whom the French Reformation was unexplored. 

Beginning with the mysterious origins of the word “Huguenot” a name given to French followers of Calvin, Pamela traced the unfolding of the Reformation in France, highlighting key figures such as Jacques Lefèvre d’Étaples (1455–1536). Her engaging style brought history to life, revealing how conviction and conscience shaped a movement that would change the world.

Persecution and Perseverance

The evening took a sobering turn as Pamela described the horrific persecution faced by the Huguenots. On the night of 23 August 1572, the eve of St Bartholomew’s Day, violence erupted across France. Within weeks, between 5,000 and 30,000 Protestants were killed in a wave of massacres that shocked Europe.

Yet out of this darkness came moments of resilience. The Edict of Nantes, signed by King Henri IV in 1598, offered French Protestants a fragile measure of religious freedom, until it was revoked by Louis XIV in 1685. This led to one of history’s earliest and largest refugee movements, as tens of thousands of Huguenots fled to safer lands across England, the Netherlands, North America, and even as far as the Cape Colony in South Africa. It was during this time that the English word “refugee” first entered common use.

From Europe to Australia

Pamela also explored the little-known story of the Huguenot diaspora in Australia. Many arrived indirectly, some transported as convicts, others emigrating from Britain and Ireland. Their influence continues to ripple through Australian history, with figures such as Governor Charles La Trobe proudly tracing their ancestry to these French Protestants who refused to abandon their faith.

The Huguenot Society of Australia continues to keep this heritage alive, encouraging historical and genealogical research through its archives, held in the Donald Robinson Library. Attendees were delighted to view a special display of rare books, manuscripts, and artefacts from the Society’s collection, which remains on show on the library’s lower ground floor and you are encouraged to go take a look!

The evening left attendees deeply moved and inspired. One guest shared:

“That was such an enjoyable presentation. I came with some background knowledge from my own family research, but I learnt so much from Pamela. I have a fuller understanding now of the length of the persecution and the impact that Huguenot refugees have had around the world. I’m keen to explore further by joining the Huguenot Society.”

Pamela’s talk reminded all present that the story of the Huguenots is not only about suffering, it is also a story of resilience, faith, and hope that continues to resonate across centuries and continents.

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